Mosquito Species Diversity and Malaria Transmission in Ayos, an Area of Degraded Forest Targeted for Universal Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net Distribution in Southern Cameroon

This study was conducted from January to December 2010 to evaluate the anopheline diversity and transmission of malaria in Ayos, a degraded forest area in the south of Cameroon, targeted for the distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). Mosquito larvae were collected by the dipping method and endophilic female adult mosquitoes were captured on volunteers. Molecular techniques were used alongside morphological techniques for mosquito identification; ELISA was used for the detection of plasmodium circumsporozoite antigens. Ten mosquito species, including four Anopheles species (Anopheles gambiae s.s., An. funestus s.s., An. moucheti s.s. and An. hancocki), were identified. The mean biting rate of these Anopheles species was 12.7 bites per person per night (b/p/n). An. gambiae s.s. (6.9 b/p/n) appeared to be the most aggressive species. Malaria transmission is mainly ensured by An. gambiae s.s., An. funestus ss. and An. moucheti s.s. Plasmodium falciparum was the only malaria parasite transmitted. The mean entomological inoculation rate (EIR) for these vectors was 0.7 infecting b/p/n. An. gambiae s.s. (65.6 %) is the major vector, with an annual EIR of 167.9 infectious b/p/n/year. The utilization of LLINs alongside other methods would highly contribute to effective malaria control in Ayos.